Flying Time ...

LeAnna - Hilton Head Island - Summer 2007

Looking at my "list" ... you would NEVER know or think that I was leaving for 9 days on Friday ... AAHHHHHHHH!

There are NOT enough boxes checked ... maybe that's because I keep ADDING boxes of things to do!

I am, however ... looking forward to leaving on Friday morning .... I do plan on blogging, maybe not everyday ... but journaling some while we're there ... I just hope my bags get packed! ha!

LeAnna's anticipation level is at an all time high at the moment ... she is SO ready to start packing ... she's really looking forward to our trip.

I just can't believe it's July already ... I know I act like "time" and how it "flies" is such an amazement to me at times ... but ... well ... it is ... "time flies" ... just like I know that "time will fly" and vacation will be "over" and I'll be sitting right back here at my desk ... again ...

... hopefully ... with a rested body and clearer outlook on "life" ... sometimes "life" just takes it out of you ... I look forward to vacation every year ... a time to clear your mind ... a time to leave "life" as we know it (especially WORK) and live like a "bum" for a week or so ... no agenda (especially hidden ones) - ha! no place to be (except by the pool with a book) ... an "easy" house to clean (all our stuff won't be there - just our suitcases) ... only cook if you want to ... eat out if you want to ... shop all day if you want to ... build sand castles if you want to ... just ... R E L A X ! ! ! !

ahhh ....

I can feel the sand between my toes and the wind blowing on my sun kissed face ... already!

Yep ... I need a vacation ... very tired at the moment ... work has been CRAZY ... looking forward to just stepping away from here ... even if just for a bit.

Happy Day ... tammy

obligating "me" self ...

4 days and counting ... well ... actually it's not the days I'm counting ... it's the "things I have to do" that I'm counting ... SO much to do ...

I don't even know where to start ... packing has not even entered my mind ... LeAnna however, packed a suitcase about 2 months ago! I laughed and told her that she was welcome to keep it packed but she might want to wait a bit ... well ... the "week to pack" has finally arrived!

I have "news" ... by telling this news ... it obligates me ... and I guess that's the reason I'm stating this tid bit of info ... for anyone who knows me well ... knows that I have NEVER gotten rid of any of LeAnna's clothes ... ever ... from birth! I have close to 20 large Walmart plastic tubs full of clothing ... yep ... running out of space to store them ... SO ... I've had some friends that have obligated themselves to "helping me" with this effort ... SO ... I'm having a consignment sale in September ... I have set this "near future" goal of September to make it more attainable for me ... I have finally dealt with all my "hormonal moments" for keeping these articles of clothing and I'm moving on ... it's sad for me ... but I'm ready ... I think?! We'll see when we start going through it all ... AAHHHHH .... praying I don't back out!

The clothes are really not doing me any good just sitting here ... especially when there are others who could get good use of them ... some of them were never worn ... some of them 1 or 2 times ...

oh well ... I'm just going to do it!

It will be a two day sale ... sometime in September ... I plan on having some other friends join me ... so there should be LOTS of children's items for sale ... it will be here at the house ... I will send out an "official" invite for it soon ...

In the recent few years ... you couldn't have paid me anything to get rid of her clothes ... I went through so much for her to be here ... and I just couldn't bring myself to do it ... there will be a few that I will put out and save for sentimental reasons ... for her to have when she's an adult ... a Mommy ...

SEE?! here I go ... getting nostalgic already!

I CAN do this ... I WILL do this ...

I'm sure there are plenty of "readers" out there saying ... oh my ... what a silly girl ... and I'm ok with that ... I have to live with "me" ... so I've done what I've done to live with me ... and now "me" is ready to move on ...

"thanks" to my friends who have understood my "me moments" and have supported along the way ... much love to you ... =0)

Okay ... so ... much to do ...

happy day ... tammy

Catch Up ...

I think this is the first time since I started blogging that I've gone over a week without posting. I have been sick for the last two weeks, coupled with the fact that work is overwhelming until the first of July ... well and beyond really ... but a deadline must be met by 7/1 ... so ... it has been work night and day ... I'm just looking forward to vacation in one week! We leave next Friday ... for a very much needed break!

A lot has happened in a week ... but i'm too tired to detail it all ... however ... the ducks went away last Saturday ... LeAnna cried so hard because she was upset they went away ... I cried so hard because I was happy they went away! I have to admit ... I was NOT fond of the ducks! Oh well ... we didn't purchase them - they were given as a gift ... so ... for any of you out there ... ever thinking of getting us a gift for whatever reason or occasion ... please ... PLEASE ... save yourself the time and effort and don't buy or give us ducks! Much and many thanks in advance!

Okay ... so ... the voice is still not back up to par yet ... however ... it seems to be getting better everyday ... if I could only just shut up I might get better! Do you know how hard it is to NOT talk ... my hands got restless, so I had to start back up! ha! Anyhoo ... getting better ...

My TO-DO list pre-vacation ... has several to-do lists of their own! oh my ... crazy I tell ya!

My little boxes are not getting checked off as quickly as I would like ... I'm fearing the all dreaded task of making the "what I didn't get done before vacation and will have to-do when I return" list ...oh well ... it happens ... I'll just have to deal and move on!

This morning we had our little marathon thingie for the biggest loser group at church ... at a place in Ashland City ... we had a great turn out ... and my little lucy bug decided to ride her bike while we walked ... well ... she woke up not feeling so hot ... and was sounding a bit like me ... coughing, and allergy type symptoms ... we went anyway ... however, she didn't eat much and after about 20 minutes into it ... she threw up! Yep ... so ... that meant ... a 20 minute walk back to the truck! Ugh ... not fun ... but ... she got better and after eating at Merriman's Tea Room she seemed better ... she's really not felt well today .... took over a 3 hour nap and has moped around a lot! I'm hoping she's better tomorrow ...

We are having our 5th Sunday Service tomorrow ... meaning one morning service and then fellowship groups meeting at some point in the afternoon or evening. We combined our group with another group and are meeting here tomorrow around 1p ... should be a great time of grilling out and great fellowship!

I still have many boxes to check on my "before I got to bed on Saturday night" list ...

happy weekend ... tammy

Growing Up ...

Today ...

Our adventure took us to The Monkey's Tree House!

LeAnna took Kaitlyn along and then we ran into a friend from NCS ... so they had fun playing together ...

I however, took advantage of the "couch" ... and read a book!

Very nice afternoon ...

I took some pictures ... and when looking at these ... I realized ...

my baby is growing up!

For so long I've looked at her as such a small, helpless, needy creature who still needs Mommy to exist! - ha! I'm finding out ... that's not the case ...

don't get me wrong ... there are times when I can't be out of her sight ...

but looking at this picture ... I see a much older LeAnna ...

this picture took me to a glimpse into the future if you will ... and I saw something very cool - but not sure if I'm really ready for it yet ...

I saw a grown up LeAnna ... a very dependent LeAnna ... who only wants "Mom" on her terms ... oh my ... I'm not ready for that yet! I still need to be needed ... and I still need to give ... I still need to comfort, help, give, kiss, hug, love, ... all the little things a little growing girl needs from Mommy ...

Am I ready for this? I'm not so sure ... yet at least ...

However ... she proved it this evening ... when "at Nana's" where she is spending the night ... I was walking out to go home and she said, "but Mom, I'm going to miss you" ... now Mom is right next door mind you ... so it wouldn't be a big deal to just walk out Mom's side door into our garage 10 feet away ... so I just said ... "you'll be fine ... I'm right next door"!

I still NEED her to say that she "might miss me too much to stay" ... because one day sooner than I would like I'm sure, she won't be upset that I'm leaving her somewhere ... she'll be happy I'm leaving!

So ... this picture made me realize that yes ... she's growing up and I can no longer look at her and view her as a baby ... she's far from that ...

I'm glad though ... I think it's the coolest thing to see her developing and growing into her "own".

We are almost 1/2 way through our summer ... can you believe it? ... I can't! ... one more week and we'll be 1/2 way though ... it's passing FAST!!!!

We leave for vacation two weeks from today and I am SO ready! However ... I have SO much to do before we leave ... I'm just hoping I can get it all done ...

So ... here's to a "grown up" day ... tammy

A Well Traveled Path ... not because I have to ... because I want to.

My heart is heavy ...

My friend who I've been blogging about in regards to her Dad being ill ... passed away yesterday. When I posted on Sunday about wondering if this was her last Father's Day with her Dad ... I didn't have a clue it would be this soon. Cancer is no respecter of persons ... it's a nasty word that makes most people stop and pause when it is mentioned. I don't like the word myself ... it's a scary word to me. It seems SO prevalent right now with so many people we know.

Coincidentally, I ran into my other friend that I've been speaking of lately as well this week ... so good to see her and check up on her after this last Sunday ... we're having lunch soon and I can't wait to catch up with her.

Both of these friends are traveling down a road that I have been traveling for 10 years now ... I've crossed all those paths that most people cross when dealing with the loss of a loved one, but specifically a Dad.

I'm reminded of my "comforter" post this week as well ... and shows me even more that realization I had and accepting that responsibility of being a comforter. There were so many that were there for me in the last 10 years, many I'm sure who knew exactly what I was facing, many who didn't know - but made attempts out of kindness.

God help me to comfort those in time of need especially in the areas that "I know", and could comfort with understanding.

Work is unbelievable right now - the reason for lack of frequent postings. I'm dreaming of a summer vacation however, and it's just two weeks away! Ahhh .... can't wait!

happy day ... tammy

The Mystery Of The Missing Voice ...

So ... good thing you are reading this ... because if you were listening to this ... you wouldn't hear me!

I started feeling a little rough last Tuesday or Wednesday ... just a simple sore throat - figured it was sinus related ... anyhoo ... by Friday ... it was a full blown "something" ...

We had a Mystery Dinner Theatre at church this weekend and my character called for a lot of speaking ... hmmmm ... I began to get worried ...

My doc called me in a z-pac on Friday afternoon (thank God for Lisa!) ... I was in a tizzy about getting sick and having to speak my parts on Saturday night!

Well ... got to practice/dress rehearsal on Friday evening ... not feeling my best ... trudged through ... got very hot ... don't know if I had a fever, or if it was the costume ... by the time we left there ... we had not been gone 2 minutes from the church when just all of a sudden ... I couldn't clear my throat ... when I would try it would end up in a high pitched wheeze ... the night got worse ... it felt like I was choking and my windpipe was closing in on me ... apparently it was I found out later ... at one point I thought I was dying ... Nate said - you're not going to die! ... BUT ... when you're trying to just breathe normal and CAN'T?!?!??! Hello ... I was ready to write good-bye letters!

So ... anyhoo ... after a VERY exhausting night ... Nate called our doc friends and he met us at his office Saturday morning ... after a breathing treatment, a pill and a steroid shot in the rump we left with a hand full of MORE meds ... "his goal" was to get me talking by Saturday night ... only thing was ... I was not allowed to speak for the rest of the day ... ha! easier said than done ... but I did it, and ... believe it or not ... my voice "slightly" came back 10 minutes before the play started! Crazy I tell you ... I couldn't believe it! I was in such a panic! And I KNOW the director was!

I made it through the evening ... was up all night Saturday night coughing ... but was much better than Friday night with NO meds ...

I have this inhaler that I'm using every 4 hours to keep my airways open ...

So ... my diagnosis ... double ear infections ... and Pharyngitis ... apparently the drainage from my ears are affecting my Pharynx and vocal chords and so I sound like the Penguin on Toy Story when his "sound" tore up ... ha! wheezy ...

Today has not been much better ... as far as coughing and my vocal ability ... AND wouldn't you know ... in a 4 day period that I'm sick ... I would have a Play to speak in, a Client (which I canceled today), a call to do background vocals in a local studio, and a request to do some recording for my job!

AAHHHHH ... I'm telling you ... this is my crazy life!

So ... that's where I've been ... going crazy!

REALLY not feeling well and SO hoping this goes away soon!

Yesterday was Father's Day .... it was my 10th year without my Dad ... it's a day to celebrate Nathan and LeAnna, and my father-in-law now and we did ... very thankful for these two special men in my life ... but I still like to take time to "reflect".

I still think sometimes about getting a gift for him ... or see something silly that I think he would like ... pick it up, smile and then place it back on the rack. The "miss" never goes away ... it does get easier however ... it's just a term you come to live with ... and move on ... but the "miss" never goes away.

I worried more about my friend who spent her first Father's Day without her Dad yesterday than myself. The "firsts" are always the hardest. My heart goes out to her ... and my friend who has a very ill parent ... wondering if she celebrated her last Father's Day with him. I remember all these feelings my friends are going through ...

I read something at my Mother-in-law's house while I was there on Saturday ... I picked up a book and flipped through it ... I stopped on a page and it stuck out to me ... I read it and then read it again ... it spoke to me ... it simply said ...

"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable ... He does it to make us comforters".

wow!

A gentle reminder ... that all these trials and things I've been through, go through, going through ... are only to make me stronger and to help others ... so I can REALLY truly understand what someone else is going through ... we truly are HIS hands and feet ... He uses us to get His point across sometimes ... that He IS real and is really there, even when we think He's not or that no one is there for that matter ... He sends a special someone who truly understands and blesses us - a "comforter".

That's what we are supposed to do ... be comforters. It's SO much easier to understand someone who is going through something when you've been there yourself ... you actually KNOW HOW to sympathize. I know it's harder for me when I "try" to understand a friend who confides in me when in reality I don't have a clue what they're feeling and have to just say generic phrases to them that truly come from the heart but not from understanding.

Anyhoo ... at least there are some fringe benefits to our trials ... helping others at some point and time down the road.

In Honor ... Happy Father's Day 2008

happy day ... tammy

Happy Birthday Papaw!

The family met for a nice evening at Long Horn Steak House in Rivergate ... Happy Happy Birthday Papaw ... you are much loved!

happy day ... tammy

Letting Go ...

My heart is heavy today ...

I have a friend who is losing her Dad ...

and I also have a friend who is in the process of facing her "firsts" without her Dad.

... and my heart goes out to them today ...

I know "exactly" what both of them are facing at this very moment.

I know the "wait" of what one friend is enduring "not knowing" when he will slip away ...

and I know the "hurt" and "grief process" of what my other friend is going through today too ... one minute you're crying ... the next smiling because you remembered a special moment ... the next your angry with questions of "why" ... the next ... crying again. It's a crazy process.

Because I have been there ... I can be there ... for both of these friends of mine. I am totally sympathetic and feel so for them today.

I am praying a special peace for both of these situations today ... that only God can give ...

... totally - only Him.

respectfully ... tammy

Blogging Is Good For You!

I found this today and thought it very interesting ...

"Why blogging is good for you" ... click here

happy day ... tammy

Pause and Enjoy ...

In my "hurry" of the day ... trying to "get it all done" ... making everything just "so-so" as my mind would have it ... although it doesn't always turn out that way - still helps to have a plan in mind ... I paused "just for a very small moment" this morning ...

to take a picture!

I know ... "I don't take that many - so I have to squeeze them in when I can"

HA!

oh well ...

anyhoo ...

This morning ... I was running out the door - and saw my camera laying on the side table ... I turned and went back, put everything down in my hands ... grabbed my camera ... and asked LeAnna to "sit" for only ONE moment!

Just a moment ... I said ... it won't take but a second ... it's important ... to me ...

I must freeze this moment in time ... so when I'm not in a hurry, I can come back to this moment via this picture and reflect.

Yep ... this fast paced world we live in ... time is getting away from me ... us ... everyone ... it's CRAZY sometimes the way we live ... and I for one, don't take the "moments" that I should take to pause and enjoy!

I guess there is a lesson learned in just about everything we do ... either you try to "do it again" ...or you learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat it.

I am happy today, that I stopped, turned around ... and captured this moment ...

crazy as it sounds ... I know there will be a day, I will be so glad I took the time ...

and for a moment ... as I snapped this picture of my beautiful little girl ... I stopped, took a deep breath ... and soaked it all in ... you probably didn't notice it, but time stopped for just 10 seconds ... and then started back again ...

yep ... a moment ... frozen in time ... for me to enjoy later.

happy crazy day ... tammy

Just A Swingin' ...

yikes ... CRAZY day ... the "diabetic" part of my life anyway!

Last night my pump ran out of insulin and I was at church ... so ... high sugar last night .... then ... slow sugar at 4am ... then high sugar at 7am ... then low sugar at 12 noon! UGH! Yep ... sugars were "just a swinging" today! NOT a fun part of my life! And I guess it didn't help that I had a full busy day that contributed to all of that! OH well ...

back on track and all is well (for now) - ha!

sometimes ... you know ... you just ... well ... anyhoo ... sometimes ...

.... moving right along ...

So ... had breakfast with two lovely ladies from church ... very nice time ... at the Pfunky Griddle ... it was my turn to pick a place for our connect group and so ... we had a Pfunky good time! Then did a little shopping at Curious Heart ... very unique place and we all left with special treasures ... some bought, some - just new ideas ... =0) It was nice to spend time with one another, relax and get to know one another better.

LeAnna's adventure for tomorrow is the Bicentennial Mall ... however, it's supposed to be SO very hot tomorrow ... UGH! We might just be there long enough to eat lunch! I think it's a neat interesting place, but I'm afraid she's going to get bored ... first - I had to explain that it wasn't a "mall" where you shop ... then, had to explain that just because it's like a "park" doesn't mean they have a playground ... hmmm ... this is going to be very interesting!

Oh well ... it's beside Farmer's Market ... so I'm planning on picking up some fresh veggies and fruits! yum!

so surely something good will come out of it! I think at this point ... it's the simple fact that we're getting out of the house for a while and doing "something" this Summer!

happy day ... tammy

My Treasure ...

Sunday ... we had a service of honoring our graduates at church ... this included college, high school, and kindergarten. We honored 4 graduates ... there were 6, but the other two weren't able to attend.

It was very nice ... it was actually "one of those days" that I had waited for a very long time.

During LeAnna's open heart surgery time (3 years ago) ... I remember the kindergartners that were honored and I started anticipating LeAnna's "turn" then.

There were comments made about how "we probably wouldn't have enough pictures" for a powerpoint ... and we laughed about it ... knowing that I have like 5 million or maybe a few more ... but I refrained ... knowing that if I had used all I wanted to, I would also have had to provide popcorn and coke, because it would have been "home movie night" at that point!

anyhoo ...

we ended up with a 20 slide presentation ... I thought that was pretty good considering that I narrowed it WAY down ... ha!

the point being ... acknowledge, honor, and show support ... happy moments ...

and that's what it was!

The speakers, Daddy, Granny and Aunt Judy all did a wonderful job of honoring our little graduate ... THANKS so much!

I, however ... did not speak ... although, I had PLENTY to say ... and I spoke to LeAnna before and afterwards of how proud I was of her ...

I did not want to embarrass her or my"hormonal"self or anyone else there for that matter ... by getting up there and making a complete fool of myself ...

it was bad enough that I sat in the audience and cried the whole time.

not to mention the chain of events that led up to the service ...oh my ... not even going to talk about it ... it's not worth even thinking about all that happened again ...

so ...

mad at myself for NOT speaking ... because I would never want her to think that Mommy didn't want to or had nothing to say ... BUT I would have been even MORE mad at myself if I had of ... so I saved myself from feeling like a blubbering idiot!

anyhoo ... we've come a long way ... very long way ... to get to this special moment in time ... and I am MUCH appreciative of all the moments God has given us that have led up to now.

There was a time that I questioned if I would even have a LeAnna to dote over ... so I don't take any special "moments" in her life lightly AT ALL ... by no means ... however ... I wanted this evening to be special and "happy" ... and that's what it was ... thanks to me NOT speaking.

I do have lots to say ... and sometimes go off the "deep end" or so it would seem sometimes ... but ... I can't help how I feel about her ... and when you've been given a treasure, I would be a fool not to cherish my treasure ...

I have been reading so much lately of different ones losing their "treasures" ... oh my ... my heart goes out to these parents ... I sit and cry with them as I read their blogs ... I can't even imagine my treasure being taken away from me ... God would have to take me with her ... I don't think I could stand it.

I sit and pray for these people that I don't know ... that God will give them some sort of peace and understanding that can only come from Him ... because how can anyone understand your treasure being taken from you?!

I can't begin to understand ...

That's why I accentuate every moment with careful attention, knowing that moment could be one that "someone" looks back on fondly with remembrance.

you just never know ...

happy heavy heart day ... tammy

Calla Lillys ...

Friday was "Adventure Day" ... and the adventure was a spa treatment to get a manicure ... her first one actually, so she was a little nervous ... however, she did fine ... and had the look of "that wasn't so bad" after we left ... she kept admiring her nails all afternoon ... just a girly girl thing ...

Today ... I was SO happy to see that my Calla Lilly that we planted last weekend had finally bloomed ... it is so beautiful ... Calla Lilly's are special to me ... it's the flower I carried and the girls carried in our wedding. I told LeAnna the story of my choosing this particular flower for my wedding and she seemed excited to talk about it ... isn't it every little girl's dream to have a fairy tale wedding? My one wish that I always had growing up ... was for my Daddy to walk me down the isle ... we were not sure he would be able to ... it was a slow walk, but we did it - together ... very cool.

I think I like my Calla Lilly's so much that I'm going to go back and buy some more!

This week has been crazy ... it seems as if things were "invading" from all angles at times ... and you know the feeling - you get to a point where you just don't think you can take anymore? But then you see or hear of someone else dealing with way more than you're dealing with and "your" blow softens a bit ... Thank God for these gentle reminders and waves of peace ... not that someone else is worse off, but that you are reminded of your inner strength and where it comes from!

Tomorrow evening at church the graduates are being honored ... LeAnna will have a table with her stuff on it ... she is excited ... she helped me pick things out today ... very simple ... but "something" we did together in her honor ... it was fun ...

Praying you find "inner strength" in "your" situation whatever it may be ...

happy day ... tammy

Who Ruled Your Day?

I know ... where have I been right?

well ...

busy ...

Saturday - we worked in the yard ALL day ... thanks to Thomas and Renee who came over and "helped" us finish up!

Sunday - busy day ... church twice and open house (another offer - waiting to hear) with lunch before open house and dinner after church Sunday night.

Monday - breakfast with family at Loveless Cafe ... hmmm ... good! Then worked around the house some more and relaxed that evening.

Tuesday - well ...

hmmm ... not much I can say ... other than ... a VERY deep blah day for me ... not sure what my deal was ... I accomplished some things around the house ... for work ... and for some clients ... however ... I was just in this "blahness" and couldn't get out ... still don't know ... hmmm ...

crazy ... but just one of those days ... and SURE didn't feel like bloggin' ... so I refrained ...

however ... I did make some chocolate chip cookies ... and the dough "pre-baked" and the smell alone starting making me feel better! Yes ... nothing like some chocolate to turn things around!

Whatever - right?!

sounded good anyway ...

oh well ... that was yesterday ... this is today ...

and my perspective is different today - thank goodness!

so ... today ... speaking of "perspective" and "perception" ... (VERY big on perception) ... and putting perspective in it's respective place ... (did that make sense?) ... anyhoo ...

left the house this morning with intentions to go pick up LeAnna from Granny and Papaw's ... on the way - called and she wasn't ready to come home ... today being Library Day ... thought she might want to "keep it up" ... however, she decided we would do Library Day next week ... oh well ... so ... I made a trip to the Pet store to get DUCK FOOD ... issues there ... NOT happy about the new critters ... however, Nate made me feel bad by saying that I should "deal with it" because it makes LeAnna happy and there would be MANY more "critters" coming into the house in the years to come ... oh well ... so ... feeling bad ... I decided to continue feeding them ... and went to the store to pick up food ... cracked corn was the choice available ... so I got in line with my cracked corn ... and an older gentleman was in front of me checking out ... the employee checking us out obviously had some issues ... not sure of what all of them were, but noticed "enough" to know that she was over compensating in one area to cover up an insecurity in another ... BEING ... in her "attempt" to converse with the gentleman with her insecurity handicap, she ended up saying a few things hurtful. The gentleman looked at me at an attempt to "be friendly" and said ... "with all my credit cards, papers and bills, pretty soon I'll have to carry a purse" ... I smiled at him and nodded in agreement ... then the employee said, "oh quit your whining" - (and this wasn't the first negative thing she said in the course of the conversation) the look on his face was "WELL, excuse me" ... I just smiled back at him as if I understood what just happened" and then he left ... obviously, she meant no harm, but in "trying" to be nice and sociable it came out in a not so nice way. She wanted to say "something" but her "something" came out wrong ... How many times have we ALL done this?! I know I have ... more than I care to recall ... I "try" to carefully consider everything I say before it comes out of my mouth ... but that's not always the case and sometimes I do as the insecure employee did and OPEN my mouth before thinking about how it might be received when spoken ... anyhoo ...

so then ... I passed a lady standing beside her car crying very hard with tissues in hand and another lady with her arm around her comforting her ... my first thought - man wonder what happened ... THEN noticed the parking lot she was standing in ... the funeral home ... well ... she just lost a loved one and is understandably upset ... that was a given ... however ... there are times when we wonder why people act the way they do, whether by a frown, smirk, not so nice remark, etc. and because we don't see the "funeral home sign" behind them (if you will) we automatically take what they said as major offence as if it were an attack from that person. When all the time, they were probably only reacting off of their "situation" at the time.

Isn't it funny how we perceive things?

Yep ... don't you wish EVERYONE wore a sign around their neck that listed all of their issues at the moment, so we would know how to perceive their actions?!

People don't wear signs though ... however, it would make life much easier!

Anyhoo ... just thoughts today ...

poor guy though ... after this I got to thinking how things that we say to strangers even, can "rule their day" ... you can make a comment to someone that can be taken as a compliment or just a negative comment ... and generally, it will rule their day ...

If someone said to me, "Man, I love that shirt" ... I would say, "thanks" and then walk away with a smile on my face because someone complimented me ... however, if someone said to me, "quit your whining" ... I would immediately assume a defense attitude and I would walk off with my mind wandering ... and thinking negative thoughts ...

-

and then ... got a phone call this afternoon that TOTALLY ruled the rest of my day (so far) ... Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

.... all I'm saying about that!

So ... generally ... everything you say ... "rules" someones day ... to the good or bad.

So ... question #1 ... who ruled your day today, good or bad?

and question #2 ... how did you rule someone else's day - was it good or bad?

thoughts to ponder ...

happy day ... tammy

Quack, Quack, Quack ...

Today was our first Adventure Day!

And last Monday she drew from the box what we would do today ... which was Mystery Day ...

So we got up ... got dressed ... I planned it to where we would do lunch first ... that way I could do a few things this morning ...

... we pulled out of the driveway and she started telling me "left", "right", "straight" ... BUT ... she thought it would be more fun to use her dry/erase board and write/draw it ... a bit more time consuming ... however, was fun ...

Little did I know ... she had been "thinking" all week about what she was going to do ... and had it ALL PLANNED!!!!!!

Oh my ... so much for spur of the moment spontaneity choices!

I was perfectly fine with her lunch choice! It's my favorite Mexican restaurant too! So that was nice!

Then ... she led us to Judy's house! I was glad they were home ... they were NOT expecting us ... but were so nice to invite us in to chat! Then we ended up doing a little gardening in their neighbor's yard, who offered some flowers to me for FREE! VERY cool for me, seeing as how I was on my way to the nursery to purchase some this afternoon! Woo-Hoo!

LeAnna ended up staying at Aunt Judy's for a while ... I was ready to continue playing the 'game' ... but she said the game ended at Judy's house! Oh well ... she had fun and that was the whole point of the day!

I brought my flowers home, watered them and tomorrow they are getting planted! We're doing yard work tomorrow! We are TOTALLY rookies at it ... but hey, we're having fun!

This afternoon, LeAnna had a birthday party to attend for a friend at school ... it was at the Bellevue Dance Center where they do ballet ... she had a great time!

Then ... dinner with friends ... at two different restaurants! oh my ... dinner at one place and dessert at another ... almost like a "progressive dinner" if you will!

And in "other" breaking news ... LeAnna received THREE ducks from Sylvia for graduation ...

great ...

oh my ...

what else can I say ...

hmmm ...

thanks?

... okay ... so we've AGREED that we will have them "temporary" ... and then they will graduate to Centennial Park where we will go faithfully and feed them!

they are cute though ...

but ...

three ducks?

ok ...

so ... LeAnna has named them ...

Rosie, Faith, and Elly

yep ... naming them attaches you to them ... well ... her to them ... SHE is their Momma ... she says ...

oh my ...

help?

Anyhoo ... long day ... and sounds like a longer one tomorrow in the heat! Argh!

happy day ... tammy

Down On The Farm ...

Whew ... day 4 of summer break!

We've done pretty good at keeping LeAnna busy ... and NOT "bored" ... AAAHHHHHH!

I knew the first week would be a bit difficult, just getting her used to RELAXING and DOING NOTHING if she wanted too ... she just hasn't wanted to! - ha!

oh well ...

Yesterday she went with Allison, Jaden and Sopie to Victor and Suzanne's farm in Franklin ... SO nice of Allison to invite her to go! It was something else to put on the calendar of "things to do" this week! - woo-hoo!

They had a great time!

Before they left I had talked with LeAnna about being obedient and staying right with Allison, not leaving her side, do whatever she said to do, mind, have manners, do what's right ... you know the drill - right?!

So ... Allison said that LeAnna was right by her while all the kids were off playing ... LeAnna wouldn't leave her side ... finally Allison decided to ask her if she was okay ...

Allison: LeAnna are you okay?

LeAnna: yes

Allison: do you want to go play?

LeAnna: yes

Allison: well why don't you go play with the kids?

LeAnna: my Mom said to stay right beside you!

ha! Hallelujah! She remembered what I said! - ha!

Allison told her that she was sure that Mommy meant as long as Allison was "around" she was fine to go play with the other kids!

... so she did!

They seemed to have a had a really great time! She pet a sheep ... she met a "Ginny" - it's a type of bird ... and actually got on a horse! She's been talking about doing this forever and when we would take her to a horse, she would refuse to touch it or get on! So this was a milestone for her ... and she LOVES horses! So ... very cool for her!

What a happy day for LeAnna!

AND while she was gone, I actually got to do a few things I had been wanting to do around here! One project was - I went through her entire room - drawers, closet, etc. and bagged up all the clothes that no longer fit and refolded the ones that do and placed them in their respective place ... I'm sure that MY child is the ONLY one who can't decide what to wear and unfolds and tosses everything in the drawer around until she finds the "special one" of the day! ha! oh well ... all straight now!

Lovely!

Tomorrow is Adventure Day ... and she chose on Monday that it would be "Mystery Day"! So ... no telling where we'll end up! But the idea, is to find a place to eat and then find something to do ... we'll see ... should be very interesting!

"Mystery Day" is in the adventure box one more time ... but I'm thinking that when it's drawn next time ... that we're going to take a box with us with "left", "right", "straight", and "turn around" in the box and we draw from the box until we end up somewhere cool!

oh well

happy day ... tammy

Library Day ...

LONG day ...

today was our first day at the library ... however ... we had several stops before getting there!

First stop was to drop off Princess at the "beauty shop" ...

Second stop was to McDonalds for breakfast.

Third stop was to the gas station at Costco ... CRAZY prices!

Fourth stop was to Justice to purchase a new book bag.

Fifth stop to NCS to pick up prize won from the jog-a-thon. Cool prize, basket of "summer goodies" ... Ms. Green also had a card for Nathan and I ... I cried when I read it ... you could have offered me a million dollars at that moment and I would have turned it down for the card ... every parent wants to hear the words that were in our note. (Nate said I was crazy - he would definitely take the million) oh well whatever - the point was an "emotional one" at the moment!

Sixth stop the downtown library. Today started our "summer journey" to the library every Wednesday. We went to the downtown location and to the children's theatre for story time. The show was about 50 minutes long ... we had a great time!

Seventh stop, Proshop for pics.

Eighth stop - Hot Diggity Dog! LeAnna's first time ... she was so excited!

Ninth stop - pick up Princess from the beauty shop. BAD haircut day ... NOT happy. I could have done a better job ...oh well ... it will grow back out!

Tenth and final stop - home! with lots to do there for the rest of the afternoon.

LeAnna said today - she was SO happy to be on summer break and was glad she didn't have to get up early in the morning! (I woke her up this morning to get out early).

Tomorrow, she has a date with Jaden and Sophie ... she is excited! So far, the week has been pretty full and she's been occupied "for the most part" ... she is REALLY looking forward to Friday - I'm excited to see where we'll end up!

happy day ... tammy

What A Prince Knows About A Princess ...

We got an email today ... LeAnna won a prize from the Jog-A-Thon ...

She was SO excited!

We found out at graduation on Sunday that she had brought in the most money out of the whole elementary and middle school for the Jog-A-Thon ... AND she did make 3 laps during the event. For every $5 turned in, you get a ticket ... and for every lap you run you get a ticket ... all the tickets went in the pot for a drawing ... and one lucky winner was getting a wii ... so we knew she had a greater chance of getting the wii ...

We are going "back to school" tomorrow to pick up her prize ... she was hoping for the wii ... but ... she didn't win that ... she was a little disappointed ( I think Daddy was more disappointed - ha!) ...oh well ... no biggie ... I'm sure her prize will be fine whatever it is ... =0)

A "funny moment" today ...

LeAnna had received a gift in the mail from family in Atlanta ... she was playing with it and I walked by ... she said, "come here Mommy" ... "look what I made" ...

I said ... "what is it?"

she said ... "I made a book" ... "it's called ...what a prince knows about a princess" ... then she proceeded to flip a blank book from the beginning to the end ... and then said, "NOTHING!" ...

hahahahahaha ....

what is SO funny about this ... is ... I received a little book from John and Denise as one of my gifts for my birthday ... it said, "what men know about women" ... and when you open it up and flip through it, the pages are all blank! LeAnna saw me open this at the party on Friday ...

so today ... when she did this - I was laughing SO hard ... she actually "got it" and came up with her "own version"!

ha!

too cute ...

happy day ... tammy